REBEL REBELLION (3.40) looked the part when landing the Grand Sefton over course and distance here in December and the Ditcheat beast can follow up for Paul Nicholls today in the Topham.

Experience is everything round here, and the challenge of the Aintree fences and the application of cheekpieces brought out the best in the nine-year-old when he gamely held on to score under Ryan Mahon.

He enjoyed a break before returning to finish third to Grey Gold over two miles on heavy at Sandown in February, leaving the impression he’d come on for the race.

That proved correct when he just failed to hold off Venetia Williams’ well-handicapped Shangani at Newbury last month despite steering an erratic course after jumping the last in the lead.

Nicholls has clearly had this race on the agenda and with a wee bit fortune in running this quirky gelding should give us a good run for the money.

Plenty of good judges were singing the praises of Vautour after the Mullins horse bolted up in the Supreme at Cheltenham last month.

Well beaten in second, but battling on well enough was Nicky Henderson’s JOSSES HILL (2.00) who may have not been first choice for the yard but proved the best of the Seven Barrows entries.

A proper chaser in the making, the son of Winged Love has the ability to land this prize for the third season in a row for Henderson.

I really fancied the chances of MODULE (3.05) in the Champion Chase and Tom George’s chaser ran a cracker to finish third, posting a career best. He steps up to 2m4f today and that could put him right in the frame.

Fourth in the Jewson last year over this trip, he looks a stronger horse this season and should go very close. Any easing of the ground would help his cause but he looks a class act in any case.

RACING PULSE (4.15) was well trounced by Seeyouatmidnight in February when sent off a 4-11 fav, but I’m convinced that lacklustre show from John Quinn’s five-year-old was not his true form.

The gelding had notched up a point win in Ireland and romped to an impressive bumper success at Naas before joining his current yard in November. Making smooth headway for James Reveley at Newcastle, he hacked up in a 2m6f hurdle and looked one to follow.

He was far from disgraced when third to Aubusson at Cheltenham in January, and his disappointing defeat at Musselburgh should probably be put down to an off day.

CAID DU BERLAIS (4.50) ran a smashing race to finish third to the highly regarded Irish raider Don Poli after the Mullins horse got first run on him in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last month.

He had earlier been campaigned over fences and it’s interesting that Nicholls keeps him over hurdles in the meantime.

Fergal O’Brien has a nice prospect in the bumper in the shape of THE GOVANESS (5.25). She had plenty of subsequent winners behind (including Legacy Gold , who took this prize 12 months ago) when landing a Cheltenham Listed race in November and she may be able to defy a penalty for that success.

Off the track since then, her shrewd trainer looks to have his smart mare plotted out for this and I’d be disappointed if she didn’t produce a big performance for Paddy Brennan.